I blush. I wasn’t pretending anything. I was truly that naïve and passive. But now I know better. Now I know I have to fight.
“Come,” Leo says. “Let’s go meet your father.”
Leo takes me to another mansion. This one even larger than his own.
“Who’s house is this?” I ask, gazing up at the huge mansion made out of sand-colored brick.
“No one’s. Me and Gabriel own it and use it when we need a meeting place that is neither one of our own houses. We’ll be meeting your father here.” Leo gets out of the car and opens my door, taking my arm firmly in his. I can’t run, especially when I see all the other men stationed outside the house.
“Who are they?” I ask.
“Guards. Mine and Gabriel’s. Just to keep your father in check.” The guards give Leo a nod as we walk past. He’s well respected. That gives him power.
That makes him more dangerous.
Once we’re inside the house, I can’t help but marvel at the beauty of it all. The marble floors. The grand staircase. The chandelier. It’s all so beautiful and yet, I’m terrified because I know my fate is about the change, one way or another.
Leo takes me into a huge dining room with a table that could seat over twenty. Another man is here. Tall and handsome with a scar across his face.
“Gabriel,” Leo says, shaking his hand.
Gabriel’s eyes settle on mine. “So this is her? Alessandro’s daughter?” There’s no emotion in his voice, shocking me to my core.
“Yes. This is her.”
“Have you found out what she knows yet?”
“I’m still working on it. She’s proving to be… difficult.”
“She’s standing right here,” I snap before I can help it.
Both men stare at me with shock.
I bow my head as a sudden shyness hits me. “I just don’t like being spoken to like I’m not here. Like I’m not even human.”
Gabriel comes to stand toe-to-toe with me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Leo tense. “You’re the daughter of Alessandro Greco. Your father is an evil man. Your uncle was an evil man until I killed him. You’re not human in my eyes.”
“I’m just an innocent woman,” I whisper.
Gabriel takes a step back, allowing me to breathe. “We’ll see. I hope for your sake that you truly are innocent. I don’t delight in torturing innocent women. But for now, you’re the enemy and our bargaining chip.”
Another man enters the room. “Boss, he’s here.”
Gabriel nods. “Bring him in.”
The man leaves and comes back a moment later with another man. This one is middled aged. Greying hair but otherwise doesn’t look old. A form-fitting brown suit.
His eyes fix onto me in an instant.
“Alessandro,” Gabriel says. “Welcome. Why don’t we all sit down and eat?”
“I am not going to break bread with you,” he snaps before nodding at me. “Who is this?”
“This,” Leo says, placing his hand on my back, “is your daughter. Surely you know that. Don’t act like she isn’t. We have your daughter, Alessandro. This is the proof.”
Alessandro’s lips pucker. “I have never seen this girl in my entire life. You won’t win, Gabriel. You kidnapped the wrong girl.”
“We know you have a daughter,” Leo snaps. “One of my guys found the farm your daughter and wife were living on. Surelyyou know all about that. There was no doubt that they were your wife and daughter.”
